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NOWA Co-sponsors the New Providence Book Festival

NOWA News

The Network of Writers & Artists (NOWA) is proud to be a co-sponsor of the New Providence Book Festival on Saturday, September 20, 2025.  A wide range of New Jersey authors will sign books and talk to visitors. Located on the grounds of the historic Salt Box Museum, the festival will include a series of presentations by authors.

At 10 AM, during the Children’s Storytime, Sue Steinhardt will read from her children’s series, ImperfectPhil is a Friend. Jean Taylor will read A Wish That Will Last. Danielle Willmott will read Sampson the Square.

At 11:00 AM, Susen Edwards will talk about “Turning Your Memoir into Fiction.”

At 12:00 Noon, D.M. Barr, Ted DelGrosso and Michael Penncavige will conduct an “Ask the Author” panel discussion.

At 1:00 PM, the festival will host a “Spoken Word Open Mike.” Any attendee may read their written work, including fiction, poetry, or essays. All readings must be “family friendly,” with a time limit of six minutes. Interested “readers” may sign up on the day of the event on a first-come, first-served basis.

A range of New Jersey authors will be available to sign their books, including J.R. Bale, D.M. Barr, Michelle Cameron, Michael Stephen Daigle, Ted Delgrosso, Susen Edwards, Sarajane Giere, Tom Kranz, Elissa Matthews, Michael Penncavage, Sue Steinhardt, Jean Taylor, Danielle Willmott and others.

“New Jersey is filled with amazing authors,” explains J.R. Bale, author and one of the organizers of the event. “This event allows readers to connect with local authors in a very personal way. With over a dozen authors, writing in various genres, it will be a stimulating event for even the most casual book lover.”

Anyone purchasing a book at the festival will be entitled to receive a free raffle ticket for drawings for a prize, which will include a Barnes & Noble gift card.

The festival will be held on the grounds of the Salt Box Museum at 1350 Springfield Avenue from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The rain date is September 27, 2025. The Salt Box Museum, the site of the festival, is operated by the New Providence Historical Society and will be open for tours, free of charge. Refreshments will be available on the grounds.

More information is available at www.newprovidencebookfestival.com.

NOWA Welcomes Mystery Author Nev March

NOWA News

Congratulations to Nev March, our newest member, on her latest mystery novel, The Silversmith’s Puzzle, the fourth in her “Captain Jim” series.

Her previous novels include Murder in Old Bombay, Peril at the Exposition and The Spanish Diplomat’s Secret.

Nev is the first Indian-born writer to win the MWA/Minotaur Best First Crime Fiction award. She is the NY chapter chair at MWA, and teaches at the Rutgers Osher Institute. She also writes screenplays.

 

A New Chapter for NOWA

NOWA News

In 2025, NOWA is expanding its mission and range by merging with an authors’ group called Page Bound Success.  Under the NOWA banner, we plan to establish a speaker bureau, publish an anthology, and support book events in the coming year.

Meanwhile, NOWA will continue to be a professional resource for those in need of professional communication services, whether it’s copywriting, photography or graphic design.

The Voice of Leadership

Article

There are three things that I tell people they need to do well to succeed, whether they are my clients or my college students. First, be good at whatever your job titles suggests you are an expert in. Second, be a good writer. Good writers are good thinkers. (Although, one can hire professional writers to help out.) Third, be a good public speaker.

In many situations, success requires leadership. All leaders must rally the troops. One of the most powerful leadership tools is your voice, not just in emails and memos. Speaking helps build and reinforce your personal platform. Here are few basic tips in becoming a better public speaker.

Outline Your Speech
A speech must have a structure. The structure may not be apparent to the audience, but without one, it will sound like rambling. Don’t just “wing it.” Only the most experienced public speakers can get away with that. Neither should you write out a word-by-word script. Reading a script lacks sincerity unless you are a practiced orator. (Using a teleprompter is an exception to this rule. However, using a teleprompter effectively requires practice.)

Your speech could be a series of stories or anecdotes. Even if it’s not, keep it interesting with fascinating details.

Rehearse Out Loud 
Many people make the mistake of rehearsing in a whisper. Rehearsal should be full-volume. This way, your throat develops the appropriate muscle memory, particularly if your speech includes technical jargon or foreign names or terms. Also, rehearsal may reveal reasons to revise your outline.

Understand the Audience Is on Your Side 
Some novice speakers fear their audience, feeling that they are being judged harshly. But honestly, rarely do they ever have a hostile audience. An audience is on your side out of self-interest. They don’t want to waste their own time, and therefore want you to be magnificent. And they will give you the benefit of the doubt.

Half of life is showing up. Half of leadership is speaking up.

J.R. Bale is an author, communications consultant and college professor. He also provides speaker coaching as one of the services offered by Balefire Communications LLC.